There was nothing special about the dungeon hallway they were in, except for a peculiar, small circular room at its end. Several other branching paths lined the hall as well, but the paths themselves weren’t anything out of the ordinary. Charlie could see the tracks that came from each of them. Claws, paw prints, and hooves littered the hallways from where the horde had emerged. Among other things. Loose scales and scattered feathers dotted the ground around them as well.

It was a mess.

The man before them swiped his hand through the air, as if he was interacting with something Charlie and the others couldn’t see. “I see,” the man mumbled to himself. “The experiment is stabilizing on its own. Good, that means we have some time.”

“Are you the dungeon researcher?” Charlie asked. He suspected the man would be able to hear him, though he didn’t know why. As it turned out, his hunch was correct.

The man lowered the hood of his robe the rest of the way and revealed himself. He had long white hair that was pulled into a ponytail and a serious expression on his face. “I am Themis Amica. Dungeon researcher is a gross simplification of my work, but for the purposes of your question, yes, I am.” He squinted, studying each of Charlie’s companions one by one. “Now, which one of you is the anomaly? I’m certain I sensed…” he paused, his attention focusing on Bleedy. “It can’t be! Gunther?” he asked.

Everyone turned to look at the racooneever. Charlie tilted his head. Gunther? Who was that?

The researcher hurried forward and raised a hand. At the same time, he said one simple word. “Shift.” A small block of dungeon rose under Bleedy’s paws. The heightened earth elevated him four feet higher than the rest of the ground. Themis leaned forward and studied him. He placed his hands on either side of Bleedy’s snout, and turned the racooneever’s head to one side, and then the other. He nodded as he inspected Bleedy. “Say ah,” Themis said.

Bleedy was so caught off guard by the man’s aggressiveness that he instinctively did so. Though his “ah” came out as more of a surprised growl. Themis closed one eye and peered into Bleedy’s mouth with the other.

“Interesting. Zephyr, run analysis,” Themis said, speaking to someone Charlie couldn’t see. The researcher then pulled out a long strip with numbers etched along it and measured the height and width of Bleedy’s face. He motioned for the block to rotate and said the word shift aloud again. The block obeyed his order, and Themis took measurements of Bleedy’s body as well.

“Um, what exactly are you doing?” Merlin asked. He wasn’t the only one utterly confused by what was happening.

Themis snapped out of his studious trance. “One moment. What did you find, Zephyr?” Themis listened intently to something they couldn’t hear. He noticed the odd expressions on the faces of his guest. “Oh! Forgive me. Zephyr, grant access to the newcomers.”

“Granted. Analysis complete. While this creature is certainly the same species as Gunther was. This is not, in fact, Gunther. Additionally, this creature appears to have evolved in some way.”

The odd voice sounded exactly the same as when Parent spoke in Charlie’s mind. If not for a slightly altered accent.

Themis nodded and started speaking before Charlie could ask about it. “I see. That’s too bad. Still, it would be useful to study him. Prepare a table for dissection.”

Merlin held his free hand up. He held Charlie in the other. “Wait a minute! No one is getting dissected! Bleedy may have an extremely limited vocabulary and he has a frustrating tendency to try to eat all my popporri weed, but that doesn’t mean you can just cut him open!”

The researcher frowned. “Ah, you have an emotional attachment to the creature, I see. How much gold would it take to change your mind?” he asked.

Merlin shook his head. “I’m starting to think we would’ve been better off with the hex knights.”

Themis frowned and appeared on his way to make another offer when Charlie finally interjected. “Hey, is Zephyr an interface?”

The researcher turned to look at him. “You are one smart baby. He is an interface indeed. He was a gift, actually, from a good friend and supporter of my work.” His eyes widened. “Zephyr, how goes the fight above ground?” he asked.

“There have been numerous casualties on both sides. Fortunately, the civilians were evacuated by the knights prior to their attack on our guests. I believe it would be wise to go deeper underground. I also recommend recalling any creatures of particular value or attachment. The knights are being cautious while they increase the evacuation zone, but once they are certain there are no bystanders, they will regroup and attack in force. Their leader, Brandt, is here in person. We should proceed with the utmost haste.”

The researcher’s head snapped to look at something over his shoulder. “Brandt is here? You’re sure?” Themis stroked his chin. “Then it’s not a matter of if, but when. Very well.”

Charlie frowned. The creatures that had come to their rescue were in danger and Themis just wanted to leave them behind? His thoughts also drifted to the knights. He had mixed feelings about them. Talmot believed Charlie could end the world or something. If the other knights all felt that way, Charlie couldn’t exactly blame them for coming after him. Of course, the memory of Fiona lingered as well. She was a good person. There were probably others just like her. What if the monsters hurt them? He felt like whatever happened out there was his fault. He just didn’t know what to do about it. What could he do? If the researcher and his strange pets hadn’t intervened, the knights would’ve captured them already, or forced him to use Tantrum and cause even more harm to his body.

“Tell me, which one of you holds a connection with a dungeon?” Themis asked, pulling Charlie out of his thoughts.

Before Charlie could answer, Zephyr spoke. “Logic dictates that the most likely candidate is the talking baby.”

Charlie was glad his interface wasn’t the only one that could be sassy at times.

Themis nodded. “Ah, a good point Zephyr!” The man nodded and stared at Charlie, then he looked over at Merlin. “Hypothetically, is your attachment to the child as strong as your attachment to the creature that isn’t Gunther?”

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Merlin scoffed. “You could just say Bleedy! Also, please tell me you aren’t asking if you can dissect Charlie! He’s a baby!”

Vetica sneered at Themis. She placed herself in front of Merlin and Charlie and stared him down.

Themis laughed. “Only a joke. I’ve not interacted with people for quite some time. I have so many projects going on at once that it’s impossible to dedicate as much time to studying humor as I might like. Please follow me. Rest assured; you’ll meet no harm within this dungeon. As long as we move quickly. I am going to recall the more valuable of my creatures soon. After that, it won’t be long before the knights follow us. As Zephyr implied, we should aim to be much farther from the entrance when they get here.”

With that, Themis turned and hurried toward the small, circular room at the end of the hallway.

Charlie looked up at Merlin, who seemed reluctant. Vetica, however, followed the man. Bleedy hurried after her. Mousifer scurried on top of Merlin’s shoe to catch a ride, and Orb floated beside Charlie.

When they reached the small room, Charlie realized it was just wide enough for all of them to step inside. The floor wasn’t made of dungeon material but was instead some kind of metal. The platform looked thin, but when Themis stood on it, it held. There was a series of metal loops embedded in the wall. They formed a circle all around the platform. A thick, white rope was threaded through each of them. Charlie couldn’t see what the ropes were attached to, as they stretched well beyond the space he could see from outside the room. The tube-like room extended upward, as well as downward, but Charlie and his friends couldn’t see in either direction without peeking their heads in. Burst of wind came in regular intervals, and it sounded like something was flapping just above Themis’ head.

Themis beckoned them to join him inside.

A loud crash came from somewhere behind them. Merlin looked over his shoulder. “What was that?”

“If we had left already, it wouldn’t even be passing thought. So why don’t we leave and let it pass?” Themis suggested.

“What is this thing? You don’t intend to hide in this room, do you?” Vetica asked.

Orb floated forward, the makeshift lance stick still attached to his side. He entered the room and then rotated to inspect the space. “Oh! I get it. This is an elevator!” he said.

Charlie tilted his head. “An elevator? What’s that?”

The researcher’s face lit up. “That’s impressive, dungeon core. You’ve heard of them before? Has technology on the surface finally caught up with that world?”

Orb floated toward Charlie and landed on his head. “Nope, me and Charlie are from Earth. I’ve seen them in movies.”

Another crash behind them, this one much louder. Dust filled the hallway where they had stood several moments earlier.

“Squeak!” Mousifer cried out. He wrapped his tail through one of the loops in Merlin’s shoelaces.

“Alright! I think I’m convinced,” Merlin said, hurrying forward into the elevator shaft. Vetica and Bleedy followed.

As soon as they’d entered, Charlie looked up. He saw where the wind and flapping noises were coming from. Two human sized brown birds flapped their wings above, patiently waiting for the elevators passengers to embark. It was hard to make them out, as the elevator shaft was much darker than the hallway. But Charlie could see that each of them wore a harness with a metallic circle on their back with ropes tied to it. Unlike normal birds, it seemed like they had fur instead of feathers along their body.

Merlin’s eyes widened when he caught sight of them. “I’ve always thought people who were afraid of birds were silly. I’m reconsidering that opinion now.”

Once they had all entered, Themis held a hand toward the birds. “Command!” he shouted. “To the lab,” he added after a moment had passed.

The birds slowly descended, and with them, so did the elevator. They were holding it up with their powerful wings. As they sank, so did the platform. If they rose, it would follow them as well.

“Bird beast power! Truly revolutionary!” Orb said.

Charlie wasn’t sure if it was their slow descent, or the myriad of floors they passed as they continued to fall. But time seemed to stretch on endlessly before they finally reached their destination at the very bottom of the shaft. The sound of the metal settling onto the ground below echoed throughout the tunnel. “We’re here,” Themis said. A pair of metallic doors was sealed shut before them. Themis lifted a hand again. “Seal!” he said.

In the tunnel's darkness, for just a moment, Charlie thought he saw a dim light shine through the researcher’s shirt. But as the doors grated open and light flooded the room, he assumed it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. They followed Themis into a large room filled with strange equipment. The dungeon walls were painted white. The paint flaked off the walls in some areas. Other areas had been awkwardly repainted a different shade of white. In the room’s center, some kind of creature writhed on a table. It had a dungeon core embedded in its chest.

Themis hurried over to inspect it. He placed a hand on it and whispered something. The beast quieted. “Excellent. We’ll let it rest for a while. Please take a moment and settle in. I’ll see to it we aren’t disturbed by the product of our kingdom’s taxes anytime soon. Annoying hex knights.”

He lifted his hand once again. It almost reminded Charlie of the way he used his own powers. “Command!” Themis called out. “You may rest now. We won’t be needing the elevator anymore. Not for a while, at least.” The birds landed on the metal floor of the elevator. They took turns removing the harnesses off of each other, and then, once they were free, flew into the room and down a hallway leading further into the dungeon.

“Excellent. They’ll get some well-deserved rest. As for the others, issue a command to the guardians, Zephyr. I want them present to defend the dungeon. You can recall some of the stronger creatures as well. Leave the fodder. Instruct most of them to continue engaging the knights. Have a few others spread throughout the city. It’ll force the knights to split their forces. We need to do whatever we can to slow them down now. Time will be a valuable resource,” Themis said.

Charlie blinked. “Why do you say that?” Charlie asked.

Themis turned to look at him. “You asked if I was the dungeon researcher. Which meant you came here to Arcadeya looking for me. There’s only one man who knows what I’m doing here. A man I owe a great deal to. But as to your question regarding my statement on the value of time. Well, that is a question that begets a question of my own. Because the answer depends on your answer. Tell me anomalous one, are you here because you wish to refine your power and learn more about it, or are you here because you wish to be free of this power and live a normal life?”

Merlin choked. Vetica’s mouth parted in surprise.

The bright blue shade of Orb’s body drained, and he dropped several inches in the air. “What?” Orb asked.

Charlie wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. “Huh? Are you saying you could make me like a normal person?” he asked, surprised by the researcher’s words.

Themis stroked his chin again. “I believe so. I intend to repay Richard’s favor to me. To do so, we’ll need to work closely together in the time that we have before the knights reach us. This dungeon is massive and stretches beneath all of Arcadeya. My creatures will do everything in their power to delay the knights and halt their progress. But what we devote this time to will be up to you. The decision you make will affect the rest of your life. So, tell me, what will it be?” Themis asked.

“Will you embrace your power, or reject it?”